Scottish churches want nuclear weapons ban to be key election issue

Scottish churches want nuclear weapons ban to be key election issue

By staff writers

January 27, 2010

Churches in Scotland have launched an initiative at Holyrood seeking to place the abolition of nuclear weapons and the scrapping of the Trident system at the heart of the forthcoming General Election campaign.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Bill Hewitt, and members of Scottish Clergy against Nuclear Armaments (SCANA) have launched an initiative at Holyrood seeking to place nuclear weapons and Trident at the heart of the General Election campaign.

Church leaders from the Roman Catholic Church, the Religious Society of Friends, the United Free Church, the United Reformed Church and the Methodists have been joined by the Kirk in the initiative.

For a long time, the Christian community has led the way in challenging the morality of nuclear weapons, say the churches. They believe that the forthcoming General Election offers an opportunity, in a way that has rarely been seen before, to challenge the philosophy that nuclear weapons are necessary for modern warfare.

Mr Hewitt explained: “There is a real chance that the renewal of the Trident system, which is due very soon, could be overturned if enough political pressure is applied. Especially, at a time when voters are asking hard questions about how we best use our tax revenues for the benefit of the maximum number of citizens.”

The initiative also includes a specially produced postcard for members of congregations to send to prospective candidates and MPs in the run up to the election urging them to put nuclear weapons and Trident at the forefront of their campaign.

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